Posted on 02/02/2005 8:14:33 PM PST by finnman69
City health officials are trying to stop a Rockland County rabbi from performing circumcisions, after a baby boy died from herpes he allegedly contracted from the rabbi during a circumcision.
The city Department of Health said Wednesday it is seeking a permanent injunction against Rabbi Yitzhok Fischer. The DOH says Fischer uses an ancient religious custom of using his mouth to suck the infant's blood after cutting the foreskin.
According to court papers filed in Manhattan, a 3-week-old boy died from herpes 10 days after he and his twin brother were circumcised by Fischer in October. The boys twin was also infected with the virus.
In addition, a Staten Island boy was also reportedly infected with herpes after a circumcision performed by Fischer in 2003.
DOH officials say Fischer did not comply with an order given in November to stop performing circumcisions and to have his blood tested.
Infants, particularly under the age of six months, are highly susceptible to infections. They do not have a functioning immune system," said Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Frieden.
Fischer's attorney says his client is cooperating with the city in an effort to determine what he says it the true source of the infection.
"The DOH says Fischer uses an ancient religious custom of using his mouth to suck the infant's blood after cutting the foreskin."
Not to knock anyone's faith, but that's freakin' wierd.
And sounds really unsanitary.
Bones
Just effin great!
The parents went along with it. It is their culture, but it should be outlawed.
ping
You could go to jail for looking at pics of this act on the internet.
Did you catch this one? Ohhhh boyyyyy.
Oy vey, is more like it! Eek!
When my son had his circumcision..THE RABBI DID NOT SUCK THE BLOOD OFF! I have NEVER heard of that being done.
Effing wierd.
I think some Chabad still do it - it's been less popular since the 1800s
perverts!
Let a real doctor perform the procedure.
Fischer uses an ancient religious custom, invented by Count Dracula, of using his mouth to suck the infant's blood . . .
?
Rabbis have done it for thousands of years.
Right after they use leeches to bleed the newborn of bad humors?
My six sons and nine grandsons were all circumcised by qualified mohelim using this procedure.
That said, this Rabbi Pischer should not have been performing milah with an open sore and should be prosecuted, sued, and banned from ever attending another bris.
It doesn't matter if it has been done since the beginning of time. It is a ritual that should have gone the way of sacrificing children on the alter. This single case should bring light to a practice that needs to be outlawed for every reason one can think of.
In fact, IMHO, I believe that circumcision will someday be outlawed unless for extreme medical reasons. It is a barbaric practice.
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